The president/coach of Bridgeton Midget Football had just coached his team to an 18-12 win over Jersey City on Vinnie Woodruff Day at Salvy Blandino Field.

“Their coach told me he thought he was going to crush us,’’ smiled Buirch. “I thought they were going to beat us.

“They went 9-1 last year and won some kind of state title and the kids coming up from the younger team went undefeated.

“That Jersey City team should go to Tampa, Fla., for Bowl Week, Dec. 1-8.

But Buirch knows it was only one game.

“One game at a time,’’ he said. “Play it like a championship game like I always do.’’

Buirch is blessed with six running back on his Packers team that has won four titles in the last five years.

“When you have that many backs like we do, we can keep them fresh,’’ he said.

Making a comeback

Welcome to an organization that was shunned by the league they thought they were playing in last year, denied entry by two other leagues during this off-season, but has landed on its feet in a league based out of Delaware.

It’s called the Independence Valley Youth Football League, with headquarters in Newark, Del., and a schedule that traverses four states.

For this new league, Bridgeton had to add a fifth team of 5- and 6-year-olds.

Buirch is not even sure of that coach’s last name, a last-minute replacement for a coach who bolted to Pittsgrove.

“He’s Steve to me,’’ said Buirch and I found out he’s my neighbor.

“He’s never played before, but he’s doing a heckuva job.

“At 5 and 6 years old, it’s all about having fun. How long can you keep a kid’s attention at that age?

“He’s giving the kids the basics.

Not playing last year hurt the program.

Players left for other organizations.

“With a year’s absence, there’s a lot of rust on these kids,’’ said Buirch. “The work ethic we had when I went 13-0 two years ago is not there yet.

“We lost some good coaches, but other coaches are stepping up.’’

Buirch coached with Vinnie Woodruff for 23 years, then had to step up himself, he said..

“Slowly, but surely, kids are coming back,’’ he said. “We expect even more next year.

“This year, we want to make them believe we’re back.’’

Doug Buirch the president

That’s Doug Buirch the coach.

What about Doug Buirch the president?

Bridgeton Midget Football gave the Cape May Junior Football League $4,000 to pay for officials at the start of last season.

There were no games played, but they never got the money back.

“They disbanded and renamed the league,’’ said Buirch of Cape May.

And, yet, new uniforms for all five Bridgeton teams will arrive on Sept. 10.

The big fundraisers for the 58-year-old organization are the chicken barbecue and raffle.

“The barbecue brings in about $2,000 a year,’’ said Buirch.

Sam Miletta regrouping

Out on the field, Sam Miletta, the winningest coach in Bridgeton Midget Football history was trying to overcome an 8-0 halftime deficit to Jersey City.

It would go to 14-0 before his Gems clawed back for a 14-12 final.

Miletta has won three titles in the last four years.

But Millville handled the Gems.

“They’re loaded,’’ said Buirch of the Holly City team.

Elizabeth City, from HNorth Jersey, handled the Gems.

“Yeah, with 17-year-olds,’’ revealed Miletta.

Are the Gems in trouble?

“We’re not hitting on defense like we should be,’’ he said when it was over.

Jersey City kept breaking tackles.

But Buirch says he’s not worried.

“We’re playing good teams,’’ he said. “Sam will do what ever it takes to get there. He and Curt (Morgan) will make their adjustments.’’

Everybody plays

“Every kid has to play six plays,’’ said Buirch of the new league. “That 33rd player on your team has to be as good as the 11th player.

“You can’t cut anybody.’’

The sign-ups went slow.

“As far as numbers go, the Whips were the hardest hit and they now have 23 players, so we’re OK’’ said Buirch. “The first night, only six signed up.’’

Uniforms don’t come in until Sept. 10.

But the season starts Sept. 7.

“We’ll have to play in our old uniforms,’’ said Buirch,

Which, if you know Bridgeton, are not shabby.

“I’m trying to get scouts to go to Rosedale, Maryland, to watch our second opponent on the schedule play,’’ he said. “I don’t have anybody yet.

Referee Mike Cook told Buirch the difference between this league and other leagues is, every week, you’re playing an all-star team.

This league recruits.

Tampa, Fla., the carrot

“All we need to do is take one team to Tampa for Bowl Week and we’ll get more players next year,’’ said Buirch.

“Where do other leagues go at the end of the season? Nowhere.’’

How will you pay the $8,000 for that trip?

“We’ll worry about that when we get there,’’ said Buirch.

Big surprise this season. No cheerleaders for the first time ever.

“Nobody signed up,’’ said Buirch. “I don’t know what happened. We need the cheerleaders out there.’’

The crowd Saturday was smaller than Buirch expected for the two Jersey City games, but grew for the Millville-Whips scrimmage.

Bridgeton will continue to take a team bus to away games.

Some teams in other leagues tell players they have to find their own way to away games.

“We don’t want to do that,’’ said Buirch.

There are enough other things to worry about.

“This is a rebuilding year,’’ he stressed. “We know that. After not playing last year, this is a rebirth.’’